Disinfecting cap for medical connectors
Inventors
Solomon, Donald D. • Ferguson, F. Mark • Avula, Mahender • HITCHCOCK, ROBERT
Assignees
HEALTH LINE INTERNATIONAL CORP., DBA HEALTH LINE MEDICAL PRODUCTS • Catheter Connections Inc
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Publication Number
US-11266784-B2
Publication Date
2022-03-08
Expiration Date
Abstract
A disinfecting cap accepts a needleless injection site to apply an antiseptic agent. The cap includes a breakable seal located in a chamber between the proximal and distal portions so as to be spaced away from the opening. The cap body may include a compliant wall that deforms when a needleless injection site is inserted into the opening to removably hold the cap on the needleless injection site. In lieu of a compliant wall, a flexible skirt may extend from the cap body into the proximal portion, so that when a needleless injection site is inserted into the opening, the flexible skirt engages the outer diameter of the needleless injection site to removably hold the cap on the needleless injection site. A carrier strip may be used, wherein each of the plurality of disinfecting caps is removably attached at its proximal end to the carrier strip.
Core Innovation
The invention features a disinfecting cap comprising a monolithically formed cap body defining a chamber with proximal and distal portions. An antiseptic agent is disposed in the distal portion of the chamber. A seal positioned between the proximal and distal portions is spaced away from the cap opening and prevents evaporation of the antiseptic agent until a needleless injection site is accepted into the cap.
A compliant thread engagement region of the cap body deforms when engaged with the needleless injection site. In the associated method, inserting a needleless injection cap engages and deforms the compliant thread engagement region. The insertion breaks the seal between the chamber portions, allowing the antiseptic agent to disinfect an exterior surface of the needleless injection cap.
Claims Coverage
The two independent claims cover a disinfecting-cap apparatus and a method of disinfecting a needleless injection cap, providing four inventive features.
Cap body and chamber
Independent claim 1 recites a monolithically formed cap body defining a chamber with an opening at the proximal end for accepting a needleless injection site, and with proximal and distal portions.
Seal retaining the antiseptic agent
Independent claim 1 places an antiseptic agent in the distal portion and a seal between the chamber portions, spaced away from the opening, which prevents evaporation of the antiseptic agent until a needleless injection site is accepted into the cap.
Compliant thread engagement region
Independent claim 1 recites a compliant thread engagement region configured to engage with the needleless injection site such that an outer wall of the cap body deforms when engaged.
Insertion-triggered disinfection
Independent claim 17 recites inserting a needleless injection cap into the disinfecting cap, engaging threads with the compliant thread engagement region, deforming that region, and breaking the seal located between the chamber portions to disinfect an exterior surface.
The independent claims cover a cap that retains antiseptic behind an evaporation-preventing seal with a compliant thread engagement region, and a method in which insertion deforms that region and breaks the seal to disinfect the needleless injection cap.
Stated Advantages
The seal prevents evaporation of the antiseptic agent until a needleless injection site is accepted into the cap.
The method disinfects the exterior surface of a needleless injection cap with an antiseptic agent.
Documented Applications
Accepting a needleless injection site into a disinfecting cap and applying an antiseptic agent to it.
Disinfecting an exterior surface of a needleless injection cap using a disinfecting cap.
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